Fastener for shoes.



PATENTED MAY 3, 1904.

W. J. SHORTEN.

FASTBNER FOR SHOES.

APPLIOATION rmzn JAN. 15. 1904.

N0 MODEL.

' one of the pivoted members detached.

UNITED STATES Patented May 3, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

FASTENER FOR SHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 758,787, dated May 3, 1904.

Application filed January 15,1904. Serial No. 189,170. (No model.)

1'0 all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J OHN SHORTEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marianna, in the county of Lee and State of Arkansas, have invented a new and useful Fastener for Shoes, 620., of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved clasp or fastener.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, andeflicient device of this character particularly designed for attachment to shoes and adapted to replace the troublesome lacing commonly employed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clasp or fastener capable of being quickly attached to or detached from the shoe and which will securely fasten the shoe and give the same a neat tidy appearance.

A still further object is to provide a fastener comprising a pair of interlocking pivoted members, said members being adjustable to vary the distance between the adjacent edges of the shoe-upper.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a shoe, showing a clasp or fastener constructed in accordance with my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the fas tener. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of Fig. 4 is a similar view of the opposite or mating member. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the two members comprising the fastener disconnected.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawmgs.

The fastener comprises a pair of pivoted members 5 and 6, preferably formed of metal and slightly curved or bowed in cross-section, as shown. The members 5 and 6 are each pivoted, as indicated at 7 to a shank 8, to which is secured in any suitable manner a clip 9, provided with inwardly-extending prongs or teeth 9, adapted to engage the leather at the edge of the upper and by means of which the fastener is secured in position thereon. The pivoted member 5 is preferably formed of a single piece of material bent on itself, as indicated at 10, to form a pair of arms 11 and 19., the long arm 11 being provided with a series of locking notches 0rrecesses 13 and the short arm thereof being hinged to the shank 8 and forming a pocket or guide 1 1 for the reception of lower arm of the member 6. The member 6 comprises a pair of arms 15 and 16, said member being provided with a spring-loop 17, formed at the juncture of the arms 15 and 16, the tendency of which is to cause the free end of the arm 15 to be normally pressed downwardly in close proximity to the arm 16. arm 15 is provided with a depending locking lug or tooth 17, having an inclined or beveled face 18, adapted to engage the notches or recesses in the pivoted member 5 and by means of which the fastener may be adjusted to vary the distance between the adjacent edges of the shoe-upper.

In applying the fastener to a shoe the clips 9 are inserted in the eyelets and the teeth or prongs driven or otherwise forced into the leather surrounding the same. as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The long arm 11 of pivoted member 5 is then introduced between the arms of the adjacent member 6 and said members pressed inwardly toward each other until the desired adjustment is effected, when the locking tooth or lug will engage the corresponding notch in the arm 11 and securely lock the parts together. In order to release the fastener, it is simply necessary to elevate the arm 15, which disengages the locking tooth or lug from said notch, thereby permitting the pivoted members to be released and tilted rearwardly on their pivotal connections, as clearly shown in Fig. 6.

The free end of the It will be observed that the clips 9 are so constructed as to be readily introduced in the eyelets of a shoe without the necessity of cutting, punching, or otherwise mutilating the leather, thereby permitting the fastener to be quickly and conveniently attached to or detached from the shoe.

By having the pivoted members comprising the fastener curved both longitudinally and laterally it not only gives the shoe a neat tidy appearance, but prevents said members from becoming accidentally detached when the same have been adjusted, while by fastening the members to the shoe in the manner described said members are securely held in horizontal alinement, but free to tilt upwardly and downwardly on their respective shanks.

While I have shown and described the clasp or fastener applied to a shoe, it is obvious that the device may be used with equally good results for various other purposes.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is V ,1, Ina device of the class described, a pair ofint'erlocking members, each provided with a fastening-clip having a pair of spaced arms adapted to engage the eyelet of a shoe, and a pivotalconnection between the interlocking members and the fastening-clips.

2. In a device ofthe class described, a pair of interlocking members each provided with a fastening-cliphaving a pair of spaced arms adapted to engage the eyelet of a shoe, said clips being provided with laterally-extending shanks and a pivotal connection between said shanks and the interlocking members.

' 3. A device of the class described, comprising a member provided with a series of transversely-disposed notches or recesses, a second member provided with a terminal locking-lug adapted to engage the notches in the first member, fastening-clips each having a pair of spaced arms adapted to engage the eyelet of a shoe, and a pivotal connection between said members, and the fastening-clips.

4-. A device of the class described, compris ing a transversely curved or bowed member provided with a series of notches or recesses, a second member correspondingly curved or bowed and provided with a locking-lug adapted to engage the notches in the first member, a pair of clips each provided with inwardlyextending spurs or teeth adapted to engage the eyelet of a shoe, and a pivotal connection between the clips and said members.

5. A device of the class described, comprising a pair of transversely and longitudinally curved or bowed interlocking members, each provided with fastening-clips adapted to engage the eyelet of a shoe, and a pivotal connection between the clips and said interlock-. ing members.

6. A device of the class described, comprising a member formed of "a single piece of metal curved or bowed in cross-section and bent to form a pair of arms of unequal length the longer arm being provided with a series of notches or recesses, a second member correspondingly curved or bowed and bent to form a pair of arms of approximately equal length, one

of which is provided with a terminal lockinglug adapted to engage the notches in the first member, said members being provided with fastening-clips adapted to engage the eyelet. of a shoe, and a hinge connection between' said members and their respective fasteningclips.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM JOHN SHORTEN. Witnesses:

LARIMORE RoBINsoN, THOMAS P. Fos'rER. 

